Area history, May 28, 2014

Today is Wednesday, May 28, 2014. Here are news reports from this date 100, 50 and 15 years ago:

In 1914: Two Champaign women were severely injured last night when the automobile in which they were riding crashed through a hedge fence and was upset in a cornfield beyond. Two men in the car, Archie Boyd, who was driving, and Frank Hanley, escaped with bruises. The accident occurred a few miles this side of Philo and is said to have been due to the fact that Boyd did not see a turn in the road.

In 1964: A 1955 automobile that was abandoned by its driver after it stalled on the Illinois Central Railroad tracks at Farina was demolished Thursday morning by the northbound Panama Limited. It was the second time in two days that the northbound Panama had struck a car. A day earlier, the train struck a station wagon in Savoy and killed Dennis Pattin of Parkville. In the Farina crash, the train was estimated to be running at 75 mph. According to ICC regulations, trains can operate at 90 to 95 mph in that area south of Champaign.

In 1999: A new classroom building for Parkland College, renovation of Champaign's Virginia Theatre, new firetrucks and a roller skating park are among the gifts from local lawmakers in the capital projects bill approved by the Legislature.